Islet cell cancer is a term used to describe a group of cancers that can occur in the hormone-producing cells of the pancreas. Islet cell cancers, also known as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, are very rare.

Islet cells are small hormone-producing cells normally found in your pancreas. Islet cell cancer arises from these cells. Some islet cell cancer cells continue to secrete hormones, creating too much of the given hormone in your body. Examples of these types of islet cell cancers include gastrinoma and glucagonoma.

Team approach. At Mayo Clinic, you'll receive coordinated care from a team of doctors and health care professionals. Mayo Clinic doctors work together to provide you with the best care possible for islet cell cancer, tailored to your needs.

Expertise with rare cancers. Mayo Clinic surgeons' unique knowledge and skill is invaluable for people with islet cell cancer.

A full range of treatment options to consider. Mayo Clinic doctors will work with you to review all of your treatment options and choose the treatment that best suits your needs and goals. The range of treatments offered to people with islet cell cancer includes surgery, targeted therapy and radiofrequency ablation.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., are ranked among the Best Hospitals for cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., is ranked high performing for cancer by U.S. News & World Report.

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people. In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.

For appointments or more information, call the Central Appointment Office at 800-446-2279 (toll-free) 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, Monday through Friday or complete an online appointment request form.

Imaging tests may include ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy, which uses a radioactive hormone that is taken up by islet cell cancers.

Endoscopy. During endoscopy, a thin tube with a camera on the end is passed down your throat and into your stomach and small intestine. Special tools can be passed through the tube to collect a tissue sample (biopsy).

Endoscopy can be combined with imaging tests, such as ultrasound (endoscopic ultrasound) and X-ray (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography).

Surgery. In some cases your doctor may recommend minimally invasive surgery to obtain a tissue sample for testing. During laparoscopy, the surgeon makes several small incisions in your abdomen, through which special tools and a tiny camera are inserted. The surgeon then looks for signs of cancer and may collect a tissue sample.

Biopsy. If cancer has spread to your liver, lymph nodes or other locations, a needle may be used to collect cells for analysis.

Treatment for islet cell cancer varies based on the types of cells involved in your cancer, the extent of your cancer, your preferences and your overall health. Options may include:

Surgery. If islet cell cancer is confined to the pancreas, treatment usually includes surgery. For cancer that occurs in the tail of the pancreas, surgery may involve removing the tail of the pancreas (distal pancreatectomy), leaving the head portion intact. Cancer that affects the head of the pancreas may require a Whipple procedure (pancreatoduodenectomy), which involves removing the cancer and part or most of your pancreas.

Targeted therapy. Targeted therapy uses medications that are specially designed to target certain cancer cells. Targeted therapy is used to treat certain advanced or recurrent islet cell cancers. Targeted therapy is a type of biological therapy for cancer.

Treatment for cancer that spreads to the liver. Islet cell cancer most often spreads to the liver and several treatments exist for this. Options include treatment to block blood flow to liver tumors (hepatic artery occlusion), treatment to deliver chemotherapy directly to the liver (chemoembolization), treatment to deliver radiation directly to the liver (radioembolization) and liver transplant.

Mayo Clinic doctors and researchers are studying new ways to care for people with islet cell cancers. Cancer research is conducted in coordination with the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center.

The Mayo Clinic Cancer Center receives funding from the National Cancer Institute and is designated as a comprehensive cancer center — recognition for an institution's scientific excellence and multidisciplinary resources focused on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Publications

See a list of publications by Mayo Clinic authors on islet cell cancer on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.

Reprint Permissions

A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.